Golf Rules Q&A

Q. On the 4th hole, David hits a poor tee shot and, in frustration, slams his club into the turf, bending the shaft. What is the ruling?
A. While there is no penalty under the Rules of Golf for his behavior, David may not use that club for the rest of the round as he changed its playing characteristics outside the normal course of play. Furthermore, he may not carry that club in that condition in a later round as that club no longer conforms because of the bent shaft.

Q. In a match between Ben and Jim, Ben loses the 11th hole. After completion of the 11th hole, Ben drops a ball into a greenside bunker and replays the bunker shot that cost him the hole. What is the ruling?
A. Ben loses the 12th hole. While a player may practice putting or chipping between the play of two holes, he may not practice from a hazard (bunker or water hazard) between holes. The penalty applies to the next hole.

Q. In a match between Parrish and Karl, before playing from the tee of the par-3 8th hole Parrish asks Karl which club Karl had just used. Karl replies that he hit 6-iron. What is the ruling?
A. Parrish loses the hole. It does not matter that Karl answered as Parrish lost the hole as soon as he asked for advice from his opponent.

Q. In an individual stroke-play competition, before playing from the tee of the par-3 12th hole Steve asks Frank which club Frank had just used. Frank replies that he hit 7-iron. What is the ruling?
A. Both Steve and Frank incur a two-stroke penalty. Note the difference in rulings for the second player in the match play and stroke play examples.

Q. In stroke play, Adam's ball lies in a lateral water hazard (red stakes/lines). In taking relief, he drops a ball three club-lengths to the side of the spot where his ball last crossed the hazard margin. He plays the ball. What is the ruling?
A. Adam incurs a total penalty of three strokes: one for taking relief from the lateral water hazard and two for playing from a wrong place. One option for taking relief from a lateral water hazard is to drop within two club-lengths (not three) of where the ball last crossed the hazard margin.

Q. In stroke play, Joe's ball lies on a sprinkler head in the fairway. He determines the nearest point of relief, drops the ball two club-lengths from the nearest point of relief, and plays the ball. What is the ruling?
A. Joe incurs a total of two penalty strokes for playing from a wrong place. For a ball lying through the green, the relief procedure from an immovable obstruction is to drop the ball with one club-length of the nearest point of relief.

Q. Ann's ball lies in a bunker. She takes her stance but does not ground her club. The ball then moves. What is the ruling?
A. If Ann's actions did not cause the ball to move, there is no penalty and she must play the ball from its new location. (Note: This ruling reflects a Rules change for 2012.)

Q. Tom's ball comes to rest in the branch of a tree near the next tee. He realizes he could stand on the bench near the next tee (without moving the bench to that location) to play the ball. He does so and plays the ball. What is the ruling?
A. There is no penalty. Tom has not built a stance as the bench was already in that location. If he had moved the bench to that location and played the ball, he would have been guilty of building a stance and would have lost the hole in match play or incurred a two-stroke penalty in stroke play.

Q. In a four-ball match, Doug is helping his partner Jim look for his (Jim's) ball in the rough. Doug accidentally kicks and moves Jim's ball. What is the ruling?
A. Jim incurs one penalty stroke, and the ball must be replaced.

Q. Todd uses a rangefinder to obtain the distance for his approach shot to the 2nd hole. What is the ruling?
A. The answer depends as to whether there is a Local Rule in effect that allows the use of distance-measuring devices. If there is such a Local Rule in effect, there is no penalty. If the Local Rule is not in effect, Todd is disqualified.

Q. Stephanie is searching for her ball that she believes is covered by leaves in a bunker. She accidentally moves her ball. What is the ruling?
A. She incurs one penalty stroke, and the ball must be replaced. (Note: This ruling reflects a Rules change for 2012.)

Q. In a match between Brian and Zach, Brian's approach shot strikes a tree and then strikes Zach's golf bag. What is the ruling?
A. In this match play situation, Brian has a choice: to play the ball from its new location or to cancel and replay.